Hello InsaneprofessorNice items.This is not my area of expertise (if I have one !) but I will comment as far as I can, as the experts are busy right now.

The glass may or may not be full lead crystal. The "ping" test will help ! Try to describe the sound. I would imagine that such fine work would be done on at least fairly good quality glass.

This is not what I normally think of when I think of "cut" glass. There seems to be both cutting and engraving on this piece but the cutting is so fine that maybe it's done with a copper wheel or some other technique. Hopefully Ivo, Bernard, Terry, Adam A or Frank will know.

As to maker, that may be difficult as the design is so classical and I imagine done by a number of different makers.

if I balance them on my fingers and gently bring them together they do make a lovely bell like chiming sound that continues for perhaps 1- 2 seconds after the initial impact, not for as long as a singing bowl but you get the idea.

These things are so subjective though, perhaps there are even more bell like chimes to be got from even more crystaly bowls?

Experience teaches that anyone who begins to collect in any field can feel a change in his soul. He becomes a joyful man filled with a deeper empathy, and a more open understanding of worldly things moves his soul. (Alfred Lichtwark 1852 – 1914)

I cannot help with maker, but it appears to me to be wheel cut. The design was cut using a cutting wheel and the cut areas left matt. Gilt was then applied to those ares. This type is usually on the thin side, but of good quality glass. Unfortunately when found today most of the gilt has disappeared. Here is a piece on ebay that helps illustrate a very good one with lots of gilt.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7376629551&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1Most of the ones I see are of this type, more Victorian in appearance. Yours seems later, Terry